Box construction



Sept. 1969 H. E. ROBINSON 3,465,944

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed April 1, 1968 2 Shets-Sheet 1 58 INVENTOR HERMAN E. ROBINSON Saw/M ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 9, 1969 H. E. ROBINSON BOX CONSTRUCT ION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1968 INVENTOI? HERMAN e ROzQ/NSON ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,465,944 BOX CONSTRUCTION Herman E. Robinson, Wynnewood, Pa., assignor to Boas Box Company, Ardmore, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,548 Int. Cl. B65d 3/12, 5/12 US. Cl. 229--5.5 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a box construction, and more particularly, to a box construction suitable for boxes with large number of sides.

It has been proposed, as for example in US. Patent 2,193,924, to construct a box by providing a tubular body portion and an end closure member for receiving and retaining an end of the body portion. Thus, the assembled body portion and end closure member define a closed-end receptacle. Constructions such as that illustrated in the above patent are well suited for use with four-sided boxes. The end closure of such boxes includes an end panel and a peripheral lip, made up of individual lip segments. Each of the segments includes an outer lip panel and an inner lip panel such members normally being in back-to'back relation. A locking flange is secured to selected inner lip panels, and includes a lock tab adapted to cooperate with a recess in the inner lip panel of an adjacent segment. Adjacent lip segments are interconnected by tabs extending from one of the segments and inserted between the inner and outer lip panels of the adjacent lip segment. Because of the right-angle corner characteristic of the usual four-sided construction the above-described structure is adequate to prevent unwanted collapse of the end closure member.

The applicants box construction is intended for use in boxes having more than four sides, and is especially suitable for boxes with six or more sides. In such boxes, the relatively large angles between lip segments render the above-described tab arrangement less effective, and make it exceedingly difficult to produce a practical end closure member from a flat blank.

The present invention provides a construction wherein adjacent lip segments of the end closure member include outer and inner lip panels, and locking flanges adapted to partially overlie the end panel of the end closure member. Adjacent locking flanges include locking edges maintained in efiective interlocking relation by the body portion disposed immediately thereabove. Accordingly, forces tending to unfold the end closure member are resisted by a unique interaction of the closure member itself and the body portion of the box in a manner not heretofore known.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel box construction of cardboard, pasteboard or the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a box construction wherein each of the elements of a box may be constructed from a flat blank.

It is another object of this invention to provide a box construction suitable for boxes having a large number of sides, for example, six sides.

Patented Sept. 9, 1969 "Ice It is a still further object of this invention to provide a box construction wherein a body portion of the box serves to maintain an end closure member of the box in assembled relation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished by a box construction wherein a tubular body portion of more than four sides includes a plurality of tab elements adjacent an end thereof, the tab elements having upper edge portions disposed outwardly of the planes of respective sides of the body portion, and end flaps on the body portion extending inwardly from their respective side, adjacent end flaps having abutting adjacent side edges for maintaining the faces of the tubular member in a predetermined angular disposition. The box construction also includes an end closure member, the end closure member comprising an end panel having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the body portion, and a plurality of lip segments extending generally at right angles to the plane of the end panel. The lip seg ments comprise outer lip panels, inner lip panels coupled to the outer lip panels and normally in back-to-back relation therewith, and locking flanges coupled to the inner lip panels. The locking flanges include interlocking edges, maintained in co-planar relation and interlocking engagement by contact with the end panel and the end flaps on the body portion.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preterred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a box construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a fiat blank from which an end closure in accordance with the present invention may be made;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view showing details of an end closure member in accordance with the present invention, and the manner in which the body portion engages such end closure members;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional View taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, it is seen in FIGURE 1 a box designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The box 10 comprises a tubular body portion 12 and an end closure member 14. For the purpose of illustration, only one end closure member 14 is shown. It will of course be understood that both ends of tubular body portion 12 may be provided with end closure members 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular body portion 12 is six-sided. The end closure members 14 have a corresponding number of sides. An end of tubular body portion 12 is received in end closure member 14 in a manner which will be described hereinafter in detail.

Tubular body portion 12 includes end flaps 16, best seen in FIGURES 3 to 5. End flaps 16 are coupled to respective sides of tubular body portion 12, and separated therefrom by fold lines 18. In their operative disposition, end flaps 16 extend inwardly at approximately right angles to their respective sides of tubular body portion 12. Adjacent end flaps 16 include beveled side edges 20 and 22, which contact each other when the tubular body portion 12 is in its operative disposition. Respective sides of body portion 12 are provided with tab elements 24. Tab elements 24 may simply be parts of body portion 12 struck out so as to provide upper edge portions 26. The upper edge portions 26 are normally disposed just slightly outwardly of the respective sides of body portion 12.

Body portion 12 may be constructed from a single flat blank of suitable sheet material. The respective sides of body portion may be panels separated by spaced fold lines 28. A lapped and glued seam 30 may join opposite edges of the body portion-forming blank.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, end closure member 14 will be described in detail. End closure member 14 comprises an end panel 32 having a shape and size corresponding generally to the cross-section of body portion 12 A peripheral lip, made up of lip segments 34 surrounds the end panel 32. End panel 32 and lip segment 34 define a receptacle for receiving an end of body portion 12.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is seen a blank designated generally by the reference numeral 36 from which end closure member 14 is formed. Panels 38, which may be referred to for convenience as outer lip panels, are coupled to the previously mentioned end panel 32 by fold lines 40. Panels 42 which may be referred to as inner lip panels are coupled to panels 38 by fold lines 44. In the illustrated embodiment, alternate panels 42 are coupled to flanges 46 by fold lines 48. Flanges 46 include lateral edges 50 and distal free edges 52. Free edges 52 extend in a direction generally parallel to fold line 48. Coupled to other alternate panels 42 are flanges 54. The flanges 54 include lateral edges 56 and locking edges 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the other alternate inner lip panels 42 are also provided with laterally extending tabs 60. The outer lip panels 38 are coupled to such alternate lip panels 42 and include laterally extending tabs 62. Inner lip panels 42 include openings 64, shaped and spaced to be complemental with the previously described tab elements 24.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the end closure member 14 is seen in a nearly-assembled configuration. Outer lip panels 38 are folded about fold lines 40 to a position at about right angles to end panel 32. Inner lip panels 42, folded about fold lines 44, are normaly in back-to-back relation with outer lip panels 38. Flanges 46 and 54 overlie edge portions of the end panels 32, and are coplanar. It should be noted that lateral edges 56 of flanges 54 normally abut lateral edges 50 of flanges 46. Also, locking edges 58 of flanges 54 abut the distal free edges of flanges 46. Tabs 60, 62 bridge adjacent lip segments, being received between outer lip panels 38 and inner lip panels 42 of adjacent lip segments.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, adhesive 66 may be provided, if desired, between adjoining faces of selected outer and inner lip panels 38, 42. As illustrated, adhesive 66 is placed between outer and inner lip panels 38, 42 of the lip segments which include flanges 54.

The manner in which body portion 12 and end closure member 14 are assembled to form the box is now apparent. An end of body portion 12 is placed within the receptacle defined by end panel 32 and lip segments 34 of end closure member 14. Tab elements 24, biased outwardly by the natural resilience of the material of which they are made, extend outwardly into openings 64 in adjacent inner lip panels 42. Upper edge portions 26 engage edges of openings 64. Thus, once seated in the end closure member 14, body portion 12 is retained therein by inter-engagement of tab elements 24 and openings 64.

Once the box is assembled, unfolding of blank 32 is prevented by locking contact between locking edges 58 and distal free edges 52. Moreover, flanges 54 and 46 are positively maintained in coplaner relation between end panel 32 and end flap 16 of the body portion 12. Hence, locking edges 58 are prevented from riding up over distal free edges 52. Unlike prior art structures, wherein forces tending to distort the lip segments outwardly away from the sides of the body portion also can disengage locking tabs, the present locking arrangement is unaffected by such forces.

The present box construction, it should be understood, may be constructed of cardboard, chipboard, pasteboard or other suitable materials occurring to those skilled in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

It is claimed:

1. A box construction comprising a tubular body portion having six sides, a plurality of tab elements on said body portion adjacent an end thereof, said tab elements having upper edge portions disposed outwardly of the side of said body portion, end flaps on said body portion extending inwardly from their respective sides when said body portion is in an operative disposition, adjacent end flaps having abuttable adjacent side edges for maintaining the sides of said tubular member in predetermined angular disposition with respect to each other, and an end closure member, said end closure member comprising an end panel having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said body portion, and a plurality of segments defining a lip extending generally at right angles to the plane of said one panel when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said end panel and said lip segments defining a receptacle adapted to receive an end of said tubular body portion when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said lip segments comprising outer lip panels coupled to said end panel, inner lip panels coupled to said outer lip panels, and locking flanges coupled to said inner lip panel, said locking flanges overlying said end panel when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, the locking flanges of first alternate lip segments having lateral edges extending generally inwardly toward the center of said end panel and a distal edge generally parallel to the plane of said lip segment when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said locking flanges of second alternate lip segments having lateral edges complemental with said lateral edges of said first alternate lip segments and locking edge portions complemental with said distal edges of said locking flanges of said first alternate lip segments, laterally extending tabs on selected inner and outer lip panels adapted to be received between the inner and outer lip panels of adjacent lip segments when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said inner lip panels having openings therein for receiving said tab elements on said body portion, said end flaps on said body portion overlying said locking flanges and maintaining said locking flanges in co-planar relation when said tab elements are received in said openings so that said end closure member is maintained in its operative disposition.

2. A box construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inner and outer lip panels of said second alternate lip panels are joined in back-to-back relation.

3. For use in a box construction having a tubular body portion with more than four sides, an end closure member comprising an end panel having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the body portion, and a plurality of segments defining a lip extending generally at right angles to the plane of said end panel when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said end panel and said lip segments defining the receptacle adapted to receive an end of the body portion, said lip segments comprising outer lip panels coupled to said end panel, inner lip panels coupled to said outer lip panels, and locking flanges coupled to said inner lip panels, said locking flanges overlying said end panel when the and closure member is in an operative disposition, laterally extending tabs on selected inner and outer lip panels adapted to be received between the inner and outer lip panels of adjacent lip segments when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, and interengageable locking edge portions on said locking flanges for locking the end closure member in its operative position.

4. An end closure member in accordance with claim 3, wherein the locking flanges of first alternate lip segments have lateral edges extending generally inwardly toward the center of said end panel and a distal edge generally parallel to the plane of said lip segment when said end closure member is in an operative disposition, said locking flanges of second alternate lip segments having lateral 10 6. A box construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein the inner and outer lip panels of said second alternate lip panels are joined in back-to-back relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,025,589 12/1935 Huye 22923 2,733,852 2/ 1956 Williamson 229-23 3,361,323 1/1968 Adams et a1 229-23 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

5. An end closure member in accordance with claim 15 229*23, 45

3, wherein said end closure panel has six sides. 

